# Best Smithsonian Exhibits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926 "2012-06-12T16:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/21 "2012-06-14T01:27:54Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > The Freer Gallery includes Whistler’s notorious [Peacock Room](http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/peacock/default.htm)–which appealed to my inner aesthete. ## Oscar Wilde considered that the most beautiful room in existence. He devoted whole lectures to it on his American tour in 1882, and that was before there was color photography to show audiences what he was talking about. I haven’t been to Ford’s Theater since 2006, but I understand they’ve greatly improved the museum portion downtstairs since then. That’s where they have the actual Derringer that killed Lincoln as well as the mini-arsenal taken off Booth when he was killed, along with other exhibits. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/22 "2012-06-14T03:33:18Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > And other pop culture touchstones: Jerry Seinfeld’s puffy shirt, Carrie Bradshaw’s computer, Carol Burnett’s charwoman outfit, Charlie McCarthy (one of), Kermit (one of), Kunta Kinte’s chains, Dorothy’s ruby slippers (one set of), etc.. Do they still have the puffy shirt? Last time I went, it wasn’t with the other TV/film artifacts. They had Archie Bunker’s chair, the Fonz’s jacket, Dorothy’s slippers and a few other things, but nothing from Seinfeld. Would it be in another part of the museum, or is it just something they rotate in and out, rather than have on permanent display. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/23 "2012-06-15T00:18:14Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Do they still have the puffy shirt? Last time I went, it wasn’t with the other TV/film artifacts. They had Archie Bunker’s chair, the Fonz’s jacket, Dorothy’s slippers and a few other things, but nothing from Seinfeld. > > Would it be in another part of the museum, or is it just something they rotate in and out, rather than have on permanent display. They were on display when I was there in 2005, but come to think about it when I was there in January '07 the American Museum where those are house was closed for renovation and lots of the pop culture items were in temporary quarters in other “lesser digs” and I don’t remember seeing the puffy shirt. Anybody know if it’s back on view again? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/24 "2012-06-15T03:24:56Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > They were on display when I was there in 2005, but come to think about it when I was there in January '07 the American Museum where those are house was closed for renovation and lots of the pop culture items were in temporary quarters in other “lesser digs” and I don’t remember seeing the puffy shirt. Anybody know if it’s back on view again? It was in 2010 that I went and didn’t see it. I had gone before in 2002, and recall that they had a few other items then (though not the puffy shirt) in the pop culture display that they didn’t have when I went back. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/25 "2012-06-15T04:17:11Z")
The Zoo id great. I also like the [Renwick](http://www.americanart.si.edu/renwick/) – a bit off the beaten path, usually very interesting stuff. Much as I like it, The National Gallery of Art isn’t part of the Smithsonian. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/26 "2012-06-15T04:39:51Z")
I always liked Phil Sheridan’s horse. [http://www.si.edu/encyclopedia\_si/nmah/horse.htm](http://www.si.edu/encyclopedia_si/nmah/horse.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/27 "2012-06-15T11:34:49Z")
Aaaand we’re off! I’ll report back Tuesday. Thanks for everything! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/28 "2012-06-15T13:15:47Z")
Enjoy! We just went there last year and had a great time. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/29 "2012-06-15T13:53:29Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > ## Oscar Wilde considered that the most beautiful room in existence. He devoted whole lectures to it on his American tour in 1882, and that was before there was color photography to show audiences what he was talking about. > > I haven’t been to Ford’s Theater since 2006, but I understand they’ve greatly improved the museum portion downtstairs since then. That’s where they have the actual Derringer that killed Lincoln as well as the mini-arsenal taken off Booth when he was killed, along with other exhibits. Went to Fords a few months ago. I don’t know how it was before but the museum is quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/30 "2012-06-15T14:18:58Z")
The weather is supposed to be amazing this weekend with a high in the low 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926/31 "2012-06-15T14:30:53Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Aside from exhibits, The Library of Congress is notable for its sumptuous Beaux Arts architecture, rife with symbolism. I can’t emphasize enough how great this building is; the LOC’s Jefferson Building, Union Station, and the National Cathedral are my three favorite buildings in Washington. BTW: If you go the LOC on a weekday, and state that you have a legitimate research purpose, you can get a free reader card, and gain access to the reading room in the Jefferson Building. It’s a fascinating space, and well worth seeing. Of course, it would be unethical to claim that you have a legitimate research purpose if you didn’t have one, even though the process is very quick and there’s no attempt to verify that you’re a researcher. So, don’t do that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-smithsonian-exhibits/624926.md?page=1)